The art of listening
- From the October 2011 issue.
In the contested industry that is the Australian transport sector, listening has become a valuable management skill. Pumpa Engineering and SAF-Holland have understood that no matter how technically adept, personable, and organised a company is, without listening to the client, it will not be ahead of the pack.
Michael Bleeser and Murray Mott, Directors of Mildura based company Mott Bleeser Logistics (MBL), has experienced the value of attentiveness first hand when he made the decision to purchase an aluminium tipping combination built by Pumpa Engineering.
“Pumpa is willing to listen and quickly reacts if we want to change anything,” he explains. “We’ve been using Pumpa equipment for ten years now, and we could always bank on their flexibility and willingness to listen to our special requirements.” As a result, Michael knew what to expect when he ordered yet another B-double combination to cope with the growing workload in the Mildura region – a robust aluminium tipping body based on a rugged Domex chassis, combined with SAF-Holland’s well-proven Intradisc axle/ suspension unit. “At the end of the day, it’s all about customer service,” he says. “Both Pumpa and SAF provide first class back up service, that’s why we trust in them.”
In fact, the company has relied on transport equipment made in Swan Hill ever since MBL bought the first Pumpa vehicle in 2001. “We cart grain and gravel, so we need a resilient product that makes the loading and unloading process as easy as possible. Some of our fleet is operating around the clock, seven days a week, making up to 50,000km a month; so we can’t afford any downtime.”
Therefore, it is no surprise that Michael and Murray deliberately chose SAF-Holland to supply their running gear. “We use SAF-Holland gear on all our trailers,” Michael explains. “Their customer service is great, and the product is quite lightweight and almost indestructible. Thereby it helps save vehicle weight, optimise fuel consumption and thus reduce environmental stress.
“When we planned the new tipping combination, we were looking for a modern disc brake solution that would combine lightweight material and uncompromising safety,” he adds. “Once again, SAF-Holland’s engineering department listened – and recommended the Intradisc series.”
The axles backbone is a rugged axle beam, inseparably welded to the axle stubs using SAF’s high-speed friction welding technology. And, its high-performance shock absorber is mounted in the middle of a new, lightweight hanger bracket that is now even narrower and symmetrically designed.
The new Pumpa B-double will soon complement a fleet of 16 prime movers, and 34 trailers that mainly operate in Victoria’s Northwest, known as the state's Food Bowl. Michael and Murray have already placed an order for three additional B-double combinations to be delivered before November.
“In the last ten years our business has grown steadily from a three truck operation located in Sea Lake to a 16 truck operation that is still growing. My business partner Murray established the company in 1988, a classic owner-driver operation. Today, we employ 30 people, and are still growing at a sustainable pace,” Michael says.
Therefore, it is important that MBL can bank on attentive suppliers. Pumpa Engineering and SAF-Holland have understood the tenets of listening, which eventually became the reason of their combined business success. But, “Listening is only the first step,” says Michael. “Afterwards, you also have to deliver.”
